July 30th, 2025, 3pm MDT
Under the bright Pacific sun and unity of 23 countries, Latter-day Saint Athlete took to the stage earlier this month at the XII Pacific mini-game in the Republic of Palau.
Competing in athletics and weightlifting, these athletes not only represented their country, but also shared the way their faith, determination and connection with the church community promoted their performance, reported the Church’s Pacific Newsroom.
The strength and spirit on display
New Zealand’s leading Judy Soroy won three bronze medals in the 86kg+ weightlifting category for women on July 5th. He finished fourth in the Clean and Jerk medals, overall category and Snatch. The game marked her international debut and was her first time competing at this level.
“It took a lot of effort and consistency to get here,” she said. “My experience with the game has been very positive and sparked to make me want to continue my sports career with weightlifting.”
Soroy, a returned missionary and a graduate of Brigham Young University Hawaii, said he felt blessed with meeting other church members from across the Pacific Ocean and drawing strength from shared experiences.
“I was approached by women and told them it was an inspiration for their strength and ambition,” she said. “I hope my example as a female athlete in the Pacific will encourage more women to follow their goals and dreams.”
Similarly from New Zealand and fellow member of the church, Tu’i-Alofa Patolo won bronze in the same weight class snatch, finishing fourth in both clean and jerk.
Second chance on the world stage
New Zealand’s Monica Seiri Hiatika came fifth overall in the women’s 77kg weightlifting competition on July 4th. Saili-Hiatika, a former swimmer who stopped competing in 2015 due to health issues, returned home this time in a completely different sport.
“It meant the world to me, who knows I’m back on the world stage,” she said. “I competed internationally in swimming as a teenager. Now, I’m competing in a new sport in 10 years.
She began weightlifting at the age of 27 in late 2024, but it was unclear whether her age would limit her options. However, her experience in Palau has changed her outlook.
“My younger self always thought the older you were, the fewer competitive sports options there were. The boy thought I was wrong,” she said. “I’ve been motivated to see so many people and ages in the game and find out, so as long as I continue to take the disciplinary action, I’ll be there for years to show more.”
Medals, missions, motivation
Faith played an important role in these athletes. For some, such as Solo’ai, Saili-Hiatika, and Fiji’s Errol Qaqa, missionaries helped shape a sense of discipline and identity.
Qaqa won gold on July 7th at the men’s 110-meter hurdle, finishing in 14.59 seconds. “We have to lead by example, so we’re happy to be able to use our money to get it done,” he said in an interview with Team Fiji. “I was working hard at home and I knew I could bring it, but at the end of the day it was all just to finish with a focus on healthy, powerful races.”
In 2012, Qaqa followed the advice of his mother and served the mission by saying, “Try it for the Lord’s team.” It wasn’t until after his mission that he was able to create the Fijian national team.
Samoa’s Mica Pedro won silver in the same event, his first medal. And in the women’s 69kg weightlifting category, New Zealand’s Siena Fesorai took home silver overall, bringing silver with lean jerks and copper to snatches.
Physian athlete Waishiki Komainaikoro finished fourth in the men’s triple jump and fifth in the long jump, closing off a strong show from Latter-day Saint Athlete in both track and field and weightlifting.
“Let’s make these games a shining example of what we can achieve when we stand together,” Palau President Sanger Whips Jr. said at the opening ceremony.
For these late-day Saint athletes, the game has achieved its goal in many ways. It shows how unity and faith can enhance both sport and spirit.
